1967 Penny Value:No Mint Mark, Copper Content and SMS Coins

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Basics & coin story

The 1967 cent belongs to a transition in U.S. coin production. Mint marks were omitted during 1965–1967 amid efforts to address coin shortages. Their return in 1968 explains why a missing letter has a different meaning here than on a later Denver coin. The Mint’s historical announcement documents that change; it does not turn every unmarked 1967 cent into a special variety.

Lincoln’s portrait by Victor David Brenner remained paired with Frank Gasparro’s Memorial reverse. The standard alloy was still 95% copper and 5% zinc, at 3.11 grams. The later copper-plated zinc cent had not yet replaced it. The 1982 penny composition guide explains why color alone cannot separate those later metals.

Collector Special Mint Sets filled the gap left by the temporary suspension of annual Proof sets. PCGS catalogs the 1967 SMS cent separately as a Special Strike, commonly abbreviated SP. An attractive regular strike can look bright too, so set context and manufacturing characteristics matter more than shine alone.

Identification

Read the complete date before searching for a letter

Look below the date without assuming a missing D or S. The normal 1967 absence of mint marks was a production policy, not evidence that a particular letter failed to strike. A shape resembling a letter needs examination for damage, deposits or alteration; it does not create an ordinary 1967-D or 1967-S circulation issue.

Separate an SMS cent from a regular strike

SMS describes the collector product and manufacturing category. It is not a grade. A coin from a broken set can lose its packaging while retaining its special-strike identity, but a reflective loose coin needs a careful comparison with a documented specimen. Cleaning can produce misleading brightness, and an ordinary uncirculated cent should not receive an SMS label simply because it has little wear.

Keep copper color separate from condition

Brown (BN), Red-Brown (RB) and Red (RD) describe retained copper color; Mint State describes the absence of circulation wear. The price examples here use RD. A brown coin can be uncirculated, while a reddish circulated cent is still worn. Inspect Lincoln’s cheek and hair, the Memorial and the fields rather than relying on the overall color.

Condition & value

Amounts are in U.S. dollars. PCGS retail-guide examples were checked October 23, 2026 and apply only to the stated issue, grade and designation. They are not guaranteed purchase offers; current market conditions and selling costs can change the amount received.

For a loose cent, begin with wear and surface status. Luster interrupted by friction differs from contact marks on an uncirculated coin. Spots, corrosion, scratches and artificial color can make a numerical guide comparison inappropriate even when the date is sharp. The coin grading scale and cleaning-signs guide explain the general checks.

Do not use an exceptional auction result as the starting price for every 1967 cent. A useful comparable must identify the same regular or SMS issue, numerical grade, copper color and any recognized attribution. A seller’s asking price is not a completed sale, and the cost of certification can exceed the likely premium on an ordinary example. Photograph the full coin and any specific feature before seeking an appraisal.

For neighboring dates, compare the 1968 penny guide. Mint marks returned in 1968, so that year’s S and D rules should not be projected backward onto 1967.

Summary

FAQ

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